Real Brownfields Deserve Dollars I
read with interest the story on Brownfield development dollars in the
July 20 issue. I applaud Dan Lathrop and other county commissioners who
voted “No” on the Randolph Street project...

Hopping Mad Carlin
Smith is hopping mad (“Will You Get Mad With Me?” 7-20-15). Somebody
filed a fraudulent return using his identity, and he’s not alone. The AP
estimates the government “pays more than $5 billion annually in
fraudulent tax refunds.” Well, many of us have been
hopping mad for years. This is because the number one tool Congress has
used to fix this problem has been to cut the IRS budget –by $1.2 billion
in the last 5 years...

Just Grumbling, No Solutions Mark
Pontoni’s grumblings [recent Northern Express column] tell us much
about him and virtually nothing about those he chooses to denigrate. We
do learn that Pontoni may be the perfect political candidate. He’s
arrogant, opinionated and obviously dimwitted...

A Racist Symbol I
have to respond to Gordon Lee Dean’s letter claiming that the
confederate battle flag is just a symbol of southern heritage and should
not be banned from state displays. The heritage it represents was the
treasonous effort to continue slavery by seceding from a democratic
nation unwilling to maintain such a consummate evil...

Not So Thanks I
would like to thank the individual who ran into and knocked over my
Triumph motorcycle while it was parked at Lowe’s in TC on Friday the
24th. The $3,000 worth of damage was greatly appreciated. The big dent
in the gas tank under the completely destroyed chrome badge was an
especially nice touch...

The New Cars

What is 40% Cars, 40% Utopia and 20% the hardest hitting man in rock androll?Take a look under the hood and youll see its The New Cars, featuringoriginal Cars Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes (guitar and keyboards,respectively), with Todd Rundgren and Kasim Sulton channeling Ric Ocasekand the late Ben Orr. Tubes drummer Prairie Prince, whos also spent timewith Todd and Jefferson Starship/Airplane, keeps the motor humming.The New Cars make their Michigan debut Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the KewadinCasino in St. Ignace. They were scheduled to play this summer at DTEEnergy Music Theater in Clarkston on a double bill with Blondie, but justdays before the show the tour bus was involved in an accident and Eastonbroke his arm.The New Cars developed from the desire of Easton and Hawkes to return tothose thrilling days of yesteryear, when Lets Go and You Might Thinkwere blasting out of radios nationwide. For those who cant get enough ofthose days, the recent release of the live DVD/CD set Unlocked providesa glimpse and a listen to the band in its heyday.Many of The Cars 20 Top-40 hits are represented in vintage performances,from packed club gigs in the 70s to sold-out arena shows in the 80s,with backstage, interview, and rehearsal footage. Former bandleader Ocasekpersonally compiled and produced Unlocked, spending over three yearsdistilling hundreds of hours of footage from his personal archive. Theresults show a band that worked hard, yet enjoyed itself, which wasntnecessarily in evidence when the band was riding high in the 80s. Its afascinating and enjoyable ride.But that was then, and this is now. So how do you go about resurrecting aband thats been on the shelf for 20 years? Easton has been quoted assaying, We are approaching this as if we are a brand new band, it just sohappens that we have an incredible amount of great music in the trunk totake along for the ride.Not only does the band have the Cars body of work to lean on, but the newband debuted three new songs on Its Alive, and the group also draws onRundgrens work, going all the way back to Open My Eyes from the Nazz,circa 1968.Rundgrens voice does bring to mind a deeper version of Ocasek. And thetwin guitar attack of Rundgren and Easton is at least as powerful as thatof the Cars in its prime. But where that band was viewed right or wrong asOcaseks mouthpiece, the new version is much more democratic.But how does it sound? Its Alive shows off a band thats tight, musicaland muscular, more so than the original. Cars fans and Todd fans alike canenjoy the music and groove on the ride.One caveat to the Kewadin show: Sulton will be replaced by Atom Ellis, whois guesting on several concerts, while Kaz tours with Meat Loaf, for whomhe is musical director.For tickets ($38.50), contact the casino at www.kewadin.com.